River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-01-27
THE BASILISK.
A STORY OF TODAY.


/ TO act for the interest of Mary FOrteseue
and myself, precisely as though no
! suspicion OF the real state of affairs
were aroused in any quarter. The adj
vantage given to me by having sur
/ prised the secret of the staircase, / re-
solved to use as freely rs was compatible
with safety. Ny first care was to open
up communications with Mary-to.
satisfy myself of her welfare. and to
take such steps to secure her safety as
occasion might put it into my power to
adopt.
l therefore watched my opportunity
carefully, and in day or two found a
lucky hour in which | might. with a
reasonable hope of success, try to turn
my knowledge TO account.
Everybody had gone out except
myself state of affairs which l had
hardly dared to hope would come
about so soon. The house was pro-
foundry still. left the drawing-room
door open. and played rs loudly as l
could several Of the airs which Mary
and | had sung or played most fire.
quently together. Then, looking care
fully about me that | might not be
observed by any of the Hardy faction.
set the mechanism of the staircase in
operation, and in a minute stood with
in the narrow passage-way.
Some instinct had warned Mary to
-. sv-r~..l 4
vanced cautiously as far as the door of
the room in which | had so roughly
brought Plowitz's wooing 10 close
when Mary appeared at the emil Of
the passage. She flew towards me
when She made sure who il was.
Il knew You would come soDn, SIZE
said. Il heard you playing. and l felt
sure Won meant 1t for me-
They were the songs YOU Ike best.
l scarcely dared to hope YOU would
understand 'avir me>,s ge.
She blushrd, and then asked anxious
":
Docs DR.. Plowitz know that you
were here that day?'
NO; he seems 10 think Il was YOU
who in some way taught aim lesson.
Have you not seen him >iace?H
No. l do not fear him. l can
avoid him as rule if hear hiDu com-
ing. Anyhow, am Tot as much afraid
OF him for myself.
.sFor whom then?''
II am afraid for vou," she said earn
estly. again c0loring and looking
shyly at me, in strange contradiction
to the earnestness of har speech. Il
am afraid for You. He would not
he could not hurt me- But if he
thought YOU We're opposing him-still
more. if he imagined you could see. he
would stand At nothing for revenge
for safety
''He would be right, / answered.
but you? How is it with you?
Helpless and a prisoner = you virtually
are, | tremble for your safety"
NO she replied, '.you evaggerate
my danger. 1t is true that | am a
prisoner. but l would be prisoner OF
my own choice rather than be constant
" in the society of DIR. Plowitz, who
likes me too much, or of Guilia. who
loves me too liUde"
4 brief time CT conversation, inter
esting only to ourselves followed, and
then my conc ern for Marv's safety
steeled me to a hurried parting. But
as | went out on the landing, just as
the wall CLOSED behind me. | thought,
most wildly, that had seen figure
the figure, IS it seemed. OF Hardy
standing at the end of the passage.
Had lac been listening? Had he
seen me And. if so. how
could I teN-how guard against the
probable revenge Of PIowitz?'
4 few DAYS: passed. in which this
'loGbt and the uncertainty rs 10 what
effee. the occurrence, if observed, might
have had upon the treatment of Mary
FJrteScuo. gave me but little rest day
aud niglIt The Basilisk was almost At
her best and sweetest Plowitz was
cordial .enoUgh in manner, but there
vas a iOk of green jealousy and hatred
N his ewes which was new, and which
iustitie nv worst suspicious. | could
believe At times. from that look. that
I he Ia I wreakcl his cayy and 0hagrin
BY ey en- the death uf her who had been
unha ppv enough 10 attract his Unwel-
CONT addresses. Nv anxiety was so
great that Itook ;hc earliest Opportuni-
y htsl PlowitZ had set out for Il walk,
,oV ar,E twilight one afternoon. 10 as
slEe myseiE u the continued welfare Of
MARY = SS.st.ntd 81 the staircase and
UullcS enc i,Nez Scarcely had set my
/ loot l5thin the passage when Mary.
PATE ;,nd anxious. came running to
wards nle-
oh co. She cried ..you are in
great DANGER"
How" L asked. Who knows l am
herea''
Hush she whispered ..Plowitz
knows all Hardy Is even now signal
ling linn % RETURN He saw you last
time. and DE- Plowitz VIII stand at
uotsing. Tia rdy has been on the
watch ever >iI Zee. and when DIR. Plo-
wiz goes ont, il l. on purpose that he
may have chance Of catching YOU
here
well. may catch him here" said
l. rather ncttled at this assumption that
al the risk was 10 be mine in an en-
counter with the "a ofessor-
You would hav, no chance. This
j. a dreadful house People have been
killed here before now. Nothing IS
known Of these thin 1gs outside. Har-
dy Is ordered. know to lock the ma
ehinery Of the stairca e if he finds you
here and shen YOU cannot escape
At thrs moment ! heard a stealthy
foOtstey upon the back stair and while
1 stepped back into he little morning
room. where Plowitz hail interviewed
Miss Fortescue with such unsatisfac-
toy results, she herself RAPIDLY reached
b er own room farther on, and l had
the satisfaction Of hearing the gentle
chick of the bolt THAT told me that she
/ was in security.
The figure Of 4 man, which in the
/ dim light / read 10 be Hardy, came
qui city along the pa sage: very slowly,
as iffearful of making a noise. When
he. got nearly opposite the doorway in
which l was standing. the gentle cfeak.
INC Of the staircase machinery made
itself audible. The light f.om the hall
!. shone for a moment inso tue dusk of the
passage. and figure which looked like
that Of Plowitz quickly entered. Har-
/ d.. from where he was erouehing. had
+ not ario,-.1 the a8xaxtauaps that Il had